Noxious Weed Free Forage and Straw Certification Program

The purpose of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Noxious Weed Free Forage and Straw (NWFFS) Certification Program is to limit the introduction and spread of noxious weeds through forage and straw onto Idaho United States Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. In addition, the NWFFS certification program allows for the transportation and sale of certified Idaho forage and straw products into and through states and other boundaries where restrictions are placed on such commodities.

An example of such restrictions include the U.S. Forest Service requirement (Weed Free Hay Order) that forage used on Idaho USFS lands be certified as noxious weed free, and fire rehabilitation or roadside maintenance contracts requiring the use of noxious weed free straw or mulch. Once a person enters Idaho USFS and BLM lands, a person cannot possess any non-certified forage, straw or mulch. Baled or compressed hay and forage (hay) cubes are considered forage. Possessing non-certified forage, straw or mulch on these Idaho public lands is subject to penalty.

The following products meet the Idaho USFS and BLM NWFFS requirements: State Certified Noxious Weed Free Hay, Cubes, and Straw. Pelletized feed meets the Idaho USFS requirements; it is not required to be certified, because the pelletizing process (heat) destroys seed viability. ISDA recommends pre-feeding your animals State Certified Noxious Weed-Free Forage (hay or cubes) or pellets 48 hours prior to entering these public lands. It is also suggested before leaving home, to thoroughly brush and clean hooves to remove potential seeds from your animals.

ISDA is a member of a voluntary national organization called the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) http://www.naisma.org/ and has incorporated its forage and straw inspection procedures, called the North American Weed Free Forage Program into the NWFFS Rules. The purpose of this organization is to set minimum requirements for uniform participation of the various states in the program. There are currently 22 states that participate. Neighboring states of Idaho that are NAISMA members include: Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

The ISDA NWFFS program has two standards of certification; however, they follow the same inspection procedures with the exception that they inspect the fields for different noxious weed lists. The first standard is the Idaho State Noxious Weed Free Standard (commonly known as the Idaho Standard). The Idaho Standard noxious weed list is the 64 State noxious weeds. The second standard is the North American Standard (noxious weeds on the North American list plus noxious weeds on the Idaho Standard, for a total of 82 noxious weeds).

If a field is inspected and no noxious weeds were found that are listed on either standard, the field is certified to the North American Standard. If a field is inspected and contains North American noxious weeds, but does not contain noxious weeds on the Idaho Standard list, it may be certified to the Idaho Standard. Approximately 90% of the forage and straw inspected in Idaho is certified to the North American Standard. State certified forage cubes, pellets, and compressed forage bales are certified only to the North American Standard.

The advantage of North American Standard certified products is they can be shipped to neighboring NAISMA states that only recognize that standard. The Idaho Standard certified hay and straw meets the Idaho USFS and BLM NWFFS requirements, however, it may not be accepted by neighboring states.

To help growers meet these requirements, the ISDA has promulgated the NWFF&S Certification Rules. Idaho’s program is managed by ISDA and each county.

For a field to be certified noxious weed free, it must be inspected by an ISDA certified inspector prior to harvest, but no sooner than, ten (10) days BEFORE harvest. There is a fee for the inspection.

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NWFFS FAQs

1. What products can be certified noxious weed free?
2. Where can I buy certified noxious weed free products?
3. How will I know if I am purchasing certified noxious weed free products?
4.How can I arrange to have my field inspected?
5. Why are there two standards for field certification?
6. What weeds are listed for each standard?7. What can I expect when my field is inspected?
8.What is the fee for certifying a field?
9.What is the cost of bale tags?
10. What is the cost of North American Standard twine?
11. Can the Idaho Crop Improvement Association certify my field as noxious weed free?
12. What is guaranteed by NWFF&S Certification?
13. What is NOT guaranteed by NWFF&S Certification?
14. How does a person become a certifying inspector?
15. Whom should I contact if I see a noxious or unknown weed?
16. Why should I be concerned about the spread of noxious weed seeds through non-certified forage/straw products?

1. What products can be certified noxious weed free?

Alfalfa hay, grass hay, grain hay, forage (hay) cubes, pellets, compressed forage bales (twice compressed, eliminating 65% of the volume), other kinds of hay, and straw. State Certified Noxious Weed Free products typically garner a higher price than equivalent-quality non-certified products. USFS and BLM requirements can vary from state to state, contact the public land manger in the state you wish to visit.

This list is not totally inclusive and other vendors may have certified product. Other options include contacting the County Weed Superintendent County Weed Control Superintendents in your county, newspaper classified-ads, or locating a retail animal feed store in your area that sell certified Noxious Weed Free Forage products. Certified forage cubes, pellets, and compressed forage bales should be available at most retail animal feed stores.

3. How will I know if I am purchasing Certified Noxious Weed Free products?

You will know you are buying certified Noxious Weed-Free hay/straw bales by the ISDA certification bale tag (made of vinyl) attached to the bale twine, or it will have at least one strand of purple and yellow (intertwined) twine.

Bags of certified Noxious Weed Free Forage Cubes/Pellets will be either stamped, stickered, or printed with the following required information:

_________Certified to the North American Standards ISDA, 208-332-8592 ISDA Forage Mfg. # North American Weed Free Forage Certification Program

Certified Noxious Weed Free Compressed Forage bales (twice compressed, eliminating 65% of the volume) can be identified by the yellow binding (strapping) material with the statement “ISDA NWFFS and the manufacturer’s name” printed in purple. In addition, two consecutive vertical purple lines are placed before and after the above statement.

An approved inspector must inspect a field prior to harvest, but no sooner than ten days before harvest. If no noxious weeds are detected, the inspector will issue a Certificate of Inspection . A field will be certified either:

North American Standard (Definition: Free of weeds declared noxious according to the North American noxious weed list and Idaho State Noxious weed list). Comparison List

Bales must be marked with either a ISDA certification bale tag or North American Standard (purple and yellow) certification (intertwined) twine (minimum of 1 strand per bale). North American Standard twine can only be used on bales that are certified to the North American Standard. NWFFS certification bale tags and North American Standard purple and yellow twine is only available from the Certifying Inspector.

A Transit Certificate will be issued, upon request, for interstate shipments of certified forage or straw that is comprised of bales that are not marked with bale tags. (If bale tags are affixed, a transit certificate is optional.

5. Why are there two standards for field certification?

There are 18 noxious weeds listed on the North American Standard that are not listed on the Idaho Standard. Two of the weeds on the North American Standard weed list are Quackgrass and Wild Oats. These weeds and some others are well established in many regions of Idaho. If Idaho only had one standard, the North American Standard, it would be very difficult to certify fields where those weeds are present. ISDA feels that having two standards allows a greater abundance of certified forage and straw throughout the state and still meets the Idaho USFS and BLM Noxious Weed Free Hay Order requirements. Approximately 90% of the forage and straw inspected in Idaho is certified to the North American Standard. If you are planning a trip to USFS and BLM lands in another state, it would be prudent to possess only North American Standard certified products.

The advantage of North American Standard certified products is that they can be shipped interstate to neighboring NAISMA states that only recognize the North American Standard. Idaho Standard certified hay and straw meet the Idaho USFS and BLM Weed Free Hay Order requirements, however, may not be accepted by neighboring states Hay Orders.

An ISDA trained Inspector; typically a County Weed Superintendents and/or their employee will inspect the perimeter of the field and the interior of the field for the presence of North American and Idaho State Noxious Weeds , using various patterns depending on the field shape and size. The Inspector will provide a copy of the inspection to the grower.

8. What is the fee for certifying a field?

A minimum of thirty dollars ($30) per inspection shall be charged for up to ten (10) acres and three dollars ($3) per acre thereafter, for fields up to ninety-nine (99) acres. Fields that are one-hundred (100) acres or larger in size, the fee is three dollars ($3) per acre for the first one-hundred (100) acres and two dollars ($2) per acre thereafter.

9. What is the cost for ISDA certification bale tags?

5 cents per bale tag.

10. What is the cost of North American Standard color-coded twine?

About 20 percent more than regular twine. North American Standard purple and yellow twine is manufactured in limited quantities compared to regular twine and is only available through ISDA and County Weed Control Superintendents.

The ICIA will only inspect fields that are being grown for certified seed (ie. barley, wheat, grass seed crops) and the fields must belong to ICIA members. The ICIA does not inspect forage fields.

12. What is guaranteed by NWFF&S Certification?

It provides assurance that the field was inspected based upon a reasonable and prudent visual inspection, and no noxious weeds were detected.

It permits entry of the certified products (Idaho Standard) into USFS lands in Idaho, and into (North American Standard) USFS land throughout the U.S. and in Provinces in Canada.

In other states, some jurisdictions have custom rules that need to be observed. An example would be a county with a county wide requirement that any forage or straw imported must be certified North American Standard noxious weed free. As a reminder, always contact the State Department of Agriculture, USFS, and BLM for the state where you plan to travel.

13. What is NOT guaranteed by NWFF&S Certification?

It does not guarantee a complete absence of noxious weeds. It only certifies that the inspector made a reasonable and prudent visual inspection and did not find any.

It does not certify quality, protein content, maturity, etc.

It does not mean that there are no non-noxious weeds in the product. The inspector may note on the inspection certificate other factors, such as other weeds, but certification is only for noxious weeds.

Certification under these rules does not qualify a commodity for export from the United States. Applications for certification for export should be made directly to the Division of Plant Industries within the ISDA.

14. How does a person become an NWFF&S Inspector?

Contact Dan Safford at ISDA (208) 332-8592 or email at dan.safford@agri.idaho.gov. To become a certified inspector you must attend an annual ISDA approved training course. The County Weed Superintendent is in charge of Inspections in their county.

16. Why should I be concerned about the spread of noxious weed seeds through non-certified forage/straw products?

Noxious weeds displace native plants species, diminish the beauty of the landscape and recreation experience, decrease wildlife habitat and ecosystem bio-diversity, and increase soil erosion rates, sending sediment into streams. Once a noxious weed species is widely distributed it is very difficult to remove it, making their effect on the environment permanent. For more information about Noxious Weeds go to our home page.